Trowbridge Tavern loses food license

Thursday

A frustrated Bourne Board of Health on May 9, refused to extend a conditional food license held by the Trowbridge Tavern, which was set to expire May 23.

The decision follows two health department inspections of the popular establishment off Trowbridge Road on May 2 and May 4. The tavern has wrestled with critical health-code violations as of late, including problems with storing and labeling both fish and shellfish, general cleanliness, and inoperable kitchen equipment that has not been removed from the premises.

The tavern, which is owned by Mary Ellen McCarthy, remains shut down. It has been inspected six times this year.

In February, the board granted McCarthy a 90 -day food despite a previous round of failed inspections. The license came with the provision that no more violations would be found during future inspections.

The tavern is arguably one of the most popular restaurants in Bourne, but that fact did not save it this time.

“I’m very frustrated,” board of health chairman Kathy Peterson told McCarthy. “And I don’t know how to make it any more clear to you. What I saw during the inspection was no regard for the people of this town for food safety. What are you going to do? There are 20 critical violations involved here. You knew we were coming back for another inspection.”

McCarthy indicated she plans a menu change to include more processed food. She said there are slight communication and cultural issues between her and her landlord, who is in India until May 19. The landlord owns the equipment. Her lease requires that she perform maintenance, even if the equipment is obsolete.

McCarthy said she had hoped to achieve some “common ground” with the board of health and had requested another follow-up inspection prior to the May 23 food license deadline.

But board members said there are too many issues to be resolved in so short a time frame. Bourne Health Agent Terri Guarino produced department documentation showing that August 2013 inspections revealed violations that continue today.

“These are critical violations that are still not corrected,” Guarino said. “There’s no accountability any more. Some violations in 2013, we still have today. When is it going to end? That’s what I want to know.”

Peterson said there is nothing in the Trowbridge record that indicates issues and problems are being seriously considered or resolved.

“You are the one who has to figure out if you can run a restaurant,” Peterson told McCarthy. “You have to ask for help. You have to. But you are going to have to figure this all out.”

McCarthy did not comment upon hearing the board decision. If she requests another inspection and passes it, she will still have to fill out a full application for a food license after May 23.